Armed Forces: Joint Strike Fighter

Lord Dykes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	The Answer printed on Monday 27 February 2006 was incorrect. The correct version appears below.
	What additional representations they will make to the government of the United States following the decision to drop the Rolls-Royce option for the second Joint Strike Fighter aircraft engine project.

Lord Drayson: Regular discussions take place at all levels with the United States Administration on all aspects of the joint combat aircraft project. The Ministry of Defence and other Ministers continue to raise project issues during their discussions with key members of the US Administration.

Afghanistan: Opium Crop

Baroness Tonge: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What herbicides are used for opium crop destruction by the allied forces in Afghanistan.

Lord Triesman: Allied forces are not taking part in opium crop destruction in Afghanistan; as President Karzai has pointed out, this is a job for the Government of Afghanistan.
	The Government of Afghanistan National Drug Control Strategy, launched at the London Conference on 31 January 2006, states
	"where there are legal livelihoods, a credible threat of eradication is needed in order to incentivise the shift away from poppy cultivation. We will therefore carry out targeted ground-based eradication throughout Afghanistan in order to ensure we make maximum progress towards our long term elimination goal".
	Afghan forces conduct eradication and do not use herbicides. The UK supports this policy.

Agriculture: Grassland-based Sustainable Research

Lord Elystan-Morgan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the 12.5 per cent reduction in financial support for grassland-based sustainable research is to be apportioned among the subject areas concerned; and
	Whether the potential effects of the cuts in financial support for grassland-based sustainable research are consistent with the recommendations of the Curry report and the recommendations of the Research Priorities Group of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Lord Bach: Defra is strengthening science and innovation to support its wider policy agenda on climate change and energy. This has resulted in an 11.56 per cent reduction in funding for sustainable farming and food research for 2006–07. At the same time Defra has been refocusing this programme to align it more closely with Defra's strategic priorities. The recommendations from the Research Priorities Group report informed this refocusing. The new programme areas in sustainable farming and food will be cross-sectoral covering climate change; water; sustainable farming systems and biodiversity; and food chain, post farm gate.

Agriculture: Grassland-based Sustainable Research

Lord Elystan-Morgan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What discussions, if any, at ministerial level took place between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Assembly Government before the cuts in financial support for grassland-based sustainable research were announced.

Lord Bach: The Welsh Assembly Government have been consulted in the development of Defra's Evidence and Innovation Strategy; are an assessor on Defra's farming and food Research Priorities Group; and are party to the development of Defra's research funding plans. Defra procures R&D relevant to agriculture and fisheries at a range of research establishments including the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER). This research is funded to support both Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government policies. The Welsh Assembly Government are a close partner in the formulation of Defra research funding plans at a number of levels ranging from our department-wide evidence and innovation strategies through to statements of policy rationale and scientific objectives for individual R&D programmes.

Agriculture: Higher Level Stewardship

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many applications for Higher Level Stewardship farm management have been made; how many have been returned as incomplete or incorrect; and how many have been approved.

Lord Bach: Eight hundred and nine applications for Higher Level Stewardship have been received as at mid-February 2006. Of these 297 have been accepted with agreements to run from 1 February 2006. Thirteen applications have been rejected. The remainder are at various stages of processing and assessment. The next round of agreements will run from 1 May.

Agriculture: Higher Level Stewardship

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the annual budgets for 2005–06 and 2006–07, broken down region by region, for Higher Level Stewardship.

Lord Bach: There will be no expenditure on the higher level scheme in 2005–06. The first agreements took effect from 1 February 2006, and the first payments are due in August this year.
	Regional budgets for 2006–07 are currently being revised to take account of the number of new applicants expected to join the scheme in the next few months. I shall write to the noble Baroness with a regional breakdown of budgets once they have been prepared.

Agriculture: Higher Level Stewardship

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the range of payment per hectare for Higher Level Stewardship.

Lord Bach: Full details of payment rates under Higher Level Stewardship can be found on the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/pdfs/es/hls-payment-booklet.pdf.

Agriculture: Higher Level Stewardship

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there are priority areas for the application of Higher Level Stewardship; and, if so, what were the criteria for selecting them.

Lord Bach: Defra, in discussion with government agencies, has outlined the key characteristics of the different parts of the English countryside, by defining over 150 Joint Character Areas (JCAs). Each area has priority targets for the management of a variety of features. Higher Level Stewardship agreements are assessed against these targets, and a targeting statement is included in application packs. Further details of the JCAs can be found on the Defra website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/schemes/jca-ts/default.htm.

Agriculture: Single Regeneration Budget

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much of the single regeneration budget is spent in the countryside in the current year, expressed in (a) monetary, and (b) percentage terms.

Lord Bach: Since April 2002, England's regional development agencies have been financed through a single programme budget (the "single pot"). This replaced a range of funding programmes administered by the RDAs, such as the single regeneration budget, and through which each government department's funding contribution to the RDAs was made. However, RDAs are required to meet legacy commitments to SRB rounds one to six from within their single programme resources.
	Money from the contributing departments (DTI, ODPM, DfES, Defra, DCMS and UKTI) is pooled into one single budget (the single pot). Once allocated, funding is available to the RDAs to spend as they see fit, to achieve the regional priorities identified in regional economic strategies, and national priorities set out in the RDA tasking framework. One of the overarching PSA targets in the tasking framework is Defra's rural productivity and access to services target, which requires RDAs to address the needs of rural communities. To support this, Defra's contribution to the single pot has increased from £46 million in 2004–05 to £72 million in 2005–06.
	Given these arrangements, RDAs are not required to produce specific figures on the basis requested. However, RDAs do report on their achievements in delivering outputs on a six-monthly basis. From this year for the first time, outputs will also be disaggregated on a rural/urban/disadvantaged basis.
	How each RDA utilises its single pot allocation will vary according to regional need. Details of RDA priorities and planned spending can be found in individual RDA corporate plans, with six-monthly reports on performance setting out what has been achieved. These documents can be found on each RDA website.

Animal Health

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the objectives of the Animal Health Foresight Project; and what role the Government have in the proceedings and outcome of the project.

Lord Bach: The Detection and Identification of Infectious Diseases project is part of the Office of Science and Technology's Foresight Programme. It is examining how science and technology are used to improve our capability to detect, identify and monitor infectious diseases in humans, animals and plants. Its findings will be published on 26 April 2006.
	Foresight is liaising directly with departments and agencies to ensure that the project's findings are used to inform relevant government policies. Defra, the Department of Health, the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence have participated from the outset through the project's steering group; which I chair. Departments and agencies have also provided important expert contributions. However, the project's scientific findings will be independent of government.

Animal Health

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the portable real time polymerase chain reaction tests for diagnosis of foot and mouth disease have been validated by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE); and, if not, when they expect validation to occur.

Lord Bach: Portable real time polymerase chain reaction tests for foot and mouth disease are the subject of ongoing evaluation and validation by various laboratories around the world. It is not possible to predict when the World Organisation for Animal Health will be in a position to recommend the approach for foot and mouth disease diagnosis as no specific validation dossier has yet been submitted.

Animal Health

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there is a frequent exchange of research findings between the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs' animal health researchers and the Department of Health's human health researchers on the use and effectiveness of polymerase chain reaction tests for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in animals and humans; and, if so, which teams from each department are involved.

Lord Bach: Defra is funding a project at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency to review the availability and merits of a range of polymerase chain reaction assays for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in animals and man.
	In the normal course of scientific research, information is exchanged between scientists in a common field by publication of results in scientific literature and through presentations at conferences. This has occurred between scientists working to develop PCR tests for human and animal diagnosis.

Animal Health

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How, taking into account working practices in abattoirs, they propose to ensure that sheep thought to have tuberculosis lesions found at post mortem in an abattoir can be immediately traced to their holding of origin or, if different, their holding of birth; and
	What measures will be implemented should a sheep carcass be found to be infected with bovine tuberculosis at post mortem after 20th February.

Lord Bach: I refer the noble Countess to the Oral Answer given on 13 February (HLDeb col. 993).

Animal Health

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether proposals for identifying sheep and goats electronically require the identification to be inserted into a part of the body other than the animal's head; and when it is proposed that electronic identification will become compulsory.

Lord Bach: EU Council Regulation 21/2004 provides for the introduction of electronic identification of sheep and goats born after 1 January 2008. The date is however subject to review by the Council later this year. The regulation allows the electronic device to be either an eartag or an electronic bolus, which is inserted into the animal's rumen.

Civil Service: Early Retirement

Viscount Tenby: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many senior civil servants in the Home Office of the rank of director (grade 5) and above left the civil service prior to reaching the normal age of retirement during the years for which records are available; whether any of those who left in this way were awarded additional years to enhance their pension benefits; and, if so, whether the posts of those receiving enhanced pensions were made redundant or whether the staff concerned left by mutual consent.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Records for senior civil servants who left the Home Office prior to reaching the normal age of retirement are available from 1 April 2003 to the present date. A total of 55 SCS left the Home Office during this period in the table below.
	
		
			 Financial year Total on Enhanced Pension Terms Other Leavers under Retirement Age 
			 2003/04 26 1 
			 2004/05 4 6 
			 20-02-2006 12 6 
		
	
	* In some cases, the postholder left because of restructuring, but all staff who left on enhanced pensions, left by mutual consent.

Commission for Equality and Human Rights

Lord Ouseley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which department will take the lead in overseeing the work of the proposed Commission on Equality and Human Rights.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government are reviewing this issue and a decision will be made and announced in due course.
	The DTI is currently leading the work on setting up the Commission for Equality and Human Rights in conjunction with the Home Office, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Constitutional Affairs. The commission is expected to be in place by October 2007.

Defra: Regional Enterprise Scheme

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the 2006–07 budgetary position with regard to the Department of Environment, Food and Regional Affairs' funding for their regional enterprise scheme (RES) grants compared with the funding available for 2005–06; when the European Union element of the funding for this scheme ends; and whether the financial support required for the 2012 London Olympic Games will affect the RES.

Lord Bach: The budget for the rural enterprise scheme (RES) in 2005–06 was £36 million. For 2006–07, the ceiling for spending under the RES has been set at £34 million.
	The current England Rural Development Programme will end on 31 December 2006. Project based schemes, including the RES, will close to new applications on 30 June 2006. The 2012 Olympic Games therefore have no implications for the future of RES grants.
	A consultation on the priorities of the next Rural Development Programme, covering the period from 2007 to 2013, will begin shortly.

Energy Efficiency

Baroness Perry of Southwark: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the statement in the Energy Efficiency Innovation Review that non-compliance with the 2002 revision of building regulations produced a shortfall in delivery of carbon savings of less than five per cent, how this figure was calculated; and whether they will publish the research on which this calculation is based.

Lord Bach: This figure was based on a survey of 99 new dwellings carried out by the Building Research Establishment and covered in its report of November 2004 to the Energy Saving Trust. It can be found at the following location on the Energy Saving Trust website: www.est.org.uk/partnership/uploads/documents/Houses-airtightness-report-Oct-04.pdf.

EU: Budget

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In the last 12 month period for which comparable figures are available, what were the United Kingdom's gross financial contributions to: (a) the institutions of the European Union (including the official contribution to the European Union Budget); (b) the United Nations; (c) the principal bodies of the Commonwealth (including the Secretariat); (d) the World Trade Organisation; and (e) the principal bodies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Lord McKenzie of Luton: HM Treasury does not hold all of this information centrally. However, the departments which lead on HMG's relationship with each of these institutions have provided the following details of financial contributions on behalf of Her Majesty's Government:
	
		
			  HMG Financial Contribution04/05 (£M; See Note 1) 
			 Institutions of the European Union (including the official contribution to the European Union Budget) £8,461 (See Note 2) 
			 United Nations N/A (See Note 3) 
			 Principal bodies of the Commonwealth (including the Secretariat) £13 
			 World Trade Organisation £5 
			 Principal bodies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation £144 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information provided by FCO, DfID and MoD.
	2. This is a gross figure, the net figure is £3,919m.
	3. These data are not currently available on a comparable basis as FCO continue to identify contributions made by OGDs in 2005. However, the FCO Departmental report shows OGD contributions for 2004 to be £678M. This cannot be taken as an indication of the 2004–05 figure due to variation year on year as a result of differing requirements. The FCO contribution to the UN regular budget for 2004–05 was £53M.

EU: Racism and Xenophobia

Lord Pearson of Rannoch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Triesman on 12 January (WA 84), whether in 1997 they agreed with the use of Article 308 (then 235) of the Treaty Establishing the European Community as the legal base to establish the Vienna-based European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia; and, if so, for what reason.

Lord Triesman: The Government agreed with the use of Article 308 of the Treaty Establishing the European Community (TEC) in the regulation to establish the European Union Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia (EUMC) as set out in the reply to the noble Lord of 12 January (Official Report, col. WA 83–84).
	During the negotiations to establish the EUMC, the UK proposed the addition of Article 213 (now Article 284) TEC—a general provision enabling the Commission to collect information to assist with the performance of its tasks—alongside Article 235 (now Article 308). This was to reflect the information-gathering nature of the EUMC. The regulation establishing the EUMC on this dual legal base was adopted at the General Affairs Council on 2 June, 1997.

Fire and Rescue Services: Early Retirement

Viscount Tenby: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, when the fire and rescue services in England and Wales were restructured into their current form in 1996, any of the existing chief fire officers of the pre-existing services retired; and, if so, whether any of these officers were awarded additional years to enhance their pension benefits.

Baroness Andrews: The fire and rescue service is a local responsibility and fire and rescue authorities are independent employers. The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	It is probable that there will have been a number of retirements, but the terms would have been a matter for the then fire authorities concerned.

Firearms

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many responses they received to their consultation paper Controls on Firearms, published in May 2004; and whether they will places copies of those responses in the Library of the House; and
	When they will publish their review of the responses they have received to their consultation paper, Controls on Firearms, published in May 2004.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Around 4,500 submissions were received in response to the consultation paper. We are not proposing to place copies in the Library of the House but a summary is being prepared for publication which will be placed in the House Library when completed. No date has been set. We are focussing at present on the steps needed to protect public safety as included in the Violent Crime Reduction Bill.

Immigration

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assistance the Legal Services Commission will give to accredited solicitors to take on the immigration case work of clients of the firm Noden & Co.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is fully aware of the situation and will process any funding requests from new suppliers on an urgent basis. The LSC's provisions allow any new supplier to undertake initial instructions to safeguard the client's position by undertaking urgent work and reviewing the previous supplier's file on receipt. Usually, no financial extension from the LSC would be required unless such work will exceed the normal initial limit applicable to that case.
	The LSC will consider increasing any existing accredited suppliers new matter start allocation on a firm by firm basis should a significant number of cases be referred to quality assured accredited suppliers. The LSC has provided the Law Society's intervening agents with a list of quality assured solicitors and advisers for inclusion in its correspondence to clients.
	Clients can also find a local legal adviser through the Community Legal Service (CLS) Direct telephone helpline.

Ivy

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they intend to address the threat to the survival of trees, shrubs and hedgerows from the unchecked growth of ivy.

Lord Bach: According to the Atlas of British Flora, ivy is virtually ubiquitous, showing no change in extent since 1962. Recent survey data show similar findings for a range of woodland habitats across, the country.
	We are well aware of the widespread view that ivy kills trees but there is no evidence apparent which would substantiate this. Where cases have been investigated in which ivy has been blamed for the death of a tree other problems have been found to account for the decline. Ivy is very valuable in providing roost sites and sometimes hibernation sites for birds, bats and invertebrates. It also provides valuable late nectar and berry sources and is a specialised dead wood resource in its own right.
	Defra therefore has no policies or mechanisms specifically designed to check the growth of ivy in trees, shrubs or hedgerows.

Official Gifts: Department for Constitutional Affairs

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which gifts received overseas by Ministers within the Department for Constituional Affairs since 2000 have been declared to H M Revenue and Customs on return to the United Kingdom as being over the normal travellers' allowances.

Baroness Ashton of Upholland: I refer the noble Lord to the answer given by the noble Lord the Lord Bassam of Brighton on Thursday 16 February (Official Report col. WA 202).

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Attenuating Energy Projectiles

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many weapons were discharged by the Police Service of Northern Ireland to fire attenuating energy projectiles in each day from 10 to 15 September 2005 inclusive.

Lord Rooker: Records indicate that during the period 10 to 15 September 2005, a total number of 238 attenuating energy projectiles were fired by police.
	I am advised that in order to determine the number of weapons discharged, each tactical support group involved in the disturbances over this six day period would be required to audit their respective armouries. This would incur a disproportionate cost.

Police Service of Northern Ireland: Attenuating Energy Projectiles

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there is any evidence to suggest that weapons used to fire attenuating energy projectiles by the Police Service of Northern Ireland reduce in accuracy according to the age of the round or the condition under which the round is stored; and
	Whether there are any guidelines regarding the condition in which weapons used to fire attenuating energy projectiles by the Police Service of Northern Ireland are stored.

Lord Rooker: I am advised that the attenuating energy projectile (AEP) was subject to rigorous testing by the Defence Ordnance Safety Group (DOSG), prior to acceptance, to ensure it maintained accuracy and consistency in all conditions in which it would be stored or used.
	As a result of this testing, DOSG provides an operational storage life for the round to which PSNI adheres, thus ensuring that all operational rounds are fit for purpose, particularly in regard to accuracy and consistency.
	I am also advised that all PSNI firearms are stored in approved armouries and in compliance with health & safety legislation when not in operational use. This would include the H&K L104 AEP Launcher.
	The details of operational storage and carriage are contained in the UK wide ACPO Guidance on Police Use of Attenuating Energy Projectiles. A copy of this document has been placed in the Library of the House.

Police

Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many attacks on police officers have been recorded in each year since 1990, broken down by type of assault including murder.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The available statistics are given in the table. Data are available only from 1995 onwards.Total 1 Assaults on Police Officers by degree of injury (1995–2005).
	
		
			  Minor or no injury 2 SeriousInjury 3 Deaths 
			 As at 31 March 1995 8,067 423 0 
			 As at 31 March 1996 7,490 424 0 
			 As at 31 March 1997 7,858 359 0 
			 As at 31 March 1998 6,917 456 0 
			 As at 31 March 1999 6,896 203 0 
			 As at 31 March 2000 7,656 194 0 
			 As at 31 March 2001 7,487 223 0 
			 As at 31 March 2002  7,524 293 0 
			 As at 31 March 2003 6,499 198 0 
			 As at 31 March 2004 7,119 253 0 
			 As at 31 March 2005 6,681 241 0 
		
	
	1 Due to incomplete data provided by police forces, the following forces are excluded from the total: Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Hampshire, Leicestershire, City of London, Metropolitan Police, North Wales, Nottinghamshire, South Wales, West Midlands.
	2 Minor injury includes those assaults for which the charge would be under Section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act, Section 38 of the Offences Against the Person Act, Sections 89(1) and 89(2) of the Police Act 1996 and Section 39 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.
	3 Serious injury includes those assaults for which the charge would be under Sections 18 and 20 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861.

Questions for Written Answer: Northern Ireland Office

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What measurement they use when assessing performance in the time taken to answer Parliamentary Questions by the Northern Ireland Office.

Lord Rooker: I consider Parliamentary Questions to be answered on time if they are answered within 14 days.

Roads: Northern Ireland A1

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the average daily number of vehicles using the Northern Ireland A1 in both directions (a) between Sprucefield and Hillsborough; (b) between Lisburn and Hillsborough; (c) on the Hillsborough bypass between Dromore and Banbridge; (d) on the Banbridge bypass; (e) between Loughbrickland and Newry; (f) on the Newry bypass stages I, II and III; (g) on the Dublin Road in Newry; and (h) between Newry and the border, for each of the past five years for which figures are available.

Lord Rooker: The chief executive of Roads Service (Dr Malcolm McKibbin) has been asked to write to the noble Lord in response to this question.
	Letter from Dr Malcolm McKibbin to Lord Laird dated 1 March 2006.
	You recently asked Her Majesty's Government a Parliamentary Question about the average daily number of vehicles using the Northern Ireland A1 in both directions (a) between Sprucefield and Hillsborough; (b) between Lisburn and Hillsborough; (c) on the Hillsborough bypass between Dromore and Banbridge; (d) on the Banbridge bypass; (e) between Loughbrickland and Newry; (f) on Newry Bypass stages I, II and III; (g) on the Dublin Road in Newry; and (h) between Newry and the border, for each of the past five years for which figures are available.
	I have been asked to reply as the issue raised falls within my responsibility as chief executive of Roads Service.
	By way of background, I should explain that Roads Service collects traffic volume data by means of 270 automatic census points strategically located throughout the Northern Ireland road network. The information is generally recorded for one week in each quarter during the year and an annual average daily traffic flow is calculated. There are a number of sites where traffic is counted continuously. The results are published in Roads Service's annual Traffic and Travel Information Report, which presents the traffic volumes in a variety of formats for each site.
	The locations of the automatic census points on the A1 between Lisburn and the border are given in Table A attached and cross referenced to parts (a) to (h) of your Question above. At census points 419 and 434 traffic is counted continuously at the other sites traffic is counted for one week in each quarter.
	The Annual Average Daily Traffic flows calculated for each site for the last available 5 years are given in Tables B and C.
	The 2005 figures are not yet available but will be published in the 2005 Traffic and Travel Information Report in due course.
	I hope this information is helpful.
	
		Table A: Traffic Counts on A1 between Sprucefield and the Border
		
			 Cross referenced to parts (a) to (h) of PQ 831/06 Road No. Census Point No. Location Direction of flow of traffic Channel 1 Channel 2 
			 (a) (b) Al 522 Sprucefield-Hillsborough, at Carnbane Road To Lisburn To Hillsborough 
			 (c) A1 530 Hillsborough Bypass To Lisburn To Dromore 
			 (d) A1 410 Dromore-Banbridge To Dromore To Banbridge 
			 (d) A1 411 Banbridge By-Pass To Dromore To Newry 
			 (e) A1 419 Loughbrickland-Newry To Newry To Belfast 
			 (f) A1 437 Newry Bypass (Stage 1) To Border To Belfast 
			 (f) A1 438 Newry Bypass (Stage 2) To Border To Belfast 
			 (f) A1 439 Newry Bypass (Stage 3) To Belfast To Border 
			 (g) A1 405 Dublin Road, Newry To Newry To Border 
			 (h) A1 434 Newry-Dundalk To Newry To Border 
		
	
	Traffic Counts on A1 between Sprucefield and the border.
	
		Table B
		
			2004 Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow2003 Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow2002 Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow 
			 RoadNo. CensusPoint No. Location Chan 1# Chan 2# Total Chan 1# Chan 2# Total Chan 1# Chan 2# Total 
			 A1 522* Lisburn-Hillsborough, at Carnbane 13,080 14,190 27,270 16,910 17,070 33,980 17,250 17,540 34,790 
			 A1 530* Hillsborough Bypass 13,040 14,120 27,160 13,853 13,865 27,718 13,390 13,339 26,729 
			 A1 410* Dromore-Banbridge 12,300 12,240 24,540 11,890 11,830 23,720 11,810 11,700 23,510 
			 A1 411* Banbridge By-Pass 10,010 9,790 19,800 8,740 8,990 17,730 7,350 10,460 17,810 
			 A1 419** Loughbrickland and Newry 8,950 9,150 18,100 8,980 9,000 17,980 8,150 8,960 17,110 
			 A1 437* Newry Bypass (Stage 1) 9,770 9,680 19,450 9,020 8,650 17,670 8,340 8,350 16,650 
			 A1 438* Newry Bypass (Stage 2) 12,140 13,060 25,210 11,100 12,110 23,210 12,650 9,790 22,440 
			 A1 439* Newry Bypass (Stage 3) 8,680 8,710 17,390 7,830 7,880 15,710 7,600 7,630 15,230 
			 A1 405* Dublin Road, Newry 9,980 10,270 20,250 9,740 9,940 19,680 9,570 9,510 19,080 
			 A1 434** Newry-Dundalk 10,210 10,360 20,570 8,590 9,010 17,600 8,920 9,080 18,000 
		
	
	#The term "Channel" relates to the direction of flow of traffic—refer to Table A.
	**At these census points traffic is counted continuously (24hrs/7days) and the Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow is calculated.
	*At these census points traffic is counted for one week in each quarter and the Annual Average, Daily Traffic Flow is calculated.
	
		Table C
		
			 Road Census  2001Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow2000Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow 
			 Road No. Census Point No. Location Channel # Channel 2# Total Channel 1# Channel 2# Total 
			 A1 522* Lisburn-Hillsborough, at Carnbane 16,550 16,900 33,450 16,290 14,550 30,840 
			 A1 530* Hillsborough Bypass N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 
			 A1 410* Dromore-Banbridge 11,290 11,240 22,530 10,730 10,380 21,120 
			 A1 411* Banbridge Bypass 8,200 8,040 16,240 8,590 8,370 16,960 
			 A1 41** Loughbrickland-Newry 6,900 9,970 16,870 8,470 8,470 16,940 
			 A1 437* Newry Bypass (Stage 1) 7,350 7,700 15,050 8,320 8,290 16,600 
			 A1 438* Newry Bypass (Stage 2) 10,370 10,070 20,440 10,660 10,190 20,850 
			 A1 439* Newry Bypass (Stage 3) 6,840 6,800 13,640 7,310 7,270 14,580 
			 A1 405* Dublin Road, Newry 9,300 8,990 18,290 9,640 9,670 19,310 
			 A1 434** Newry-Dundalk 8,740 8,990 17,730 9,450 9,580 19,030 
		
	
	Note:
	Where "N/A" appears this means that either the counter was not yet in place or the information was deemed unreliable following quality checks.
	# The term "Channel" relates to the direction of flow of traffic—refer to Table A.
	** At these census points traffic is counted continuously (24 hours/7 days) and the Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow is calculated.
	* At these census points traffic is counted for one week in each quarter and the Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow is calculated.

Roads: Northern Ireland M1

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the average daily number of vehicles using the M1 motorway in Northern Ireland in both directions and for all measured points.

Lord Rooker: The chief executive of Roads Service Dr Malcolm McKibbin has been asked to write to the noble Lord in response to this question.
	Letter from Dr Malcolm McKibbin to Lord Laird dated 1 March 2006.
	You recently asked Her Majesty's Government a Parliamentary Question about the average daily number of vehicles using the M1 motorway in Northern Ireland in both directions and for all measured points.
	I have been asked to reply as the issue raised falls within my responsibility as chief executive of Roads Service.
	By way of background, I should explain that Roads Service collects traffic volume data by means of 270 automatic census points strategically located throughout the Northern Ireland road network. The information is generally recorded for one week in each quarter during the year and an annual average daily traffic flow is calculated. There are a number of sites where traffic is counted continuously. The results are published in Roads Service's annual Traffic and Travel Information Report, which presents the traffic volumes in a variety of formats for each site.
	The locations of the automatic census points on the M1 are given in Table A attached. At census point 403 traffic is counted continuously, at the other sites traffic is counted for one week in each quarter.
	The annual average daily traffic flows calculated for each site for the last available five years are given in Tables B and C.
	I hope this information is helpful.
	
		Table A: Traffic Counts on M1 Motorway
		
			 Road Number Census PointNumber Location Direction of Flow of Traffic Channel 1 Channel 2 
			 M1 201 Broadway-Stockman's Lane (Junction 2) To Belfast From Belfast 
			 M1 227 Stockman's Lane Junction (above roundabout) To Belfast From Belfast 
			 M1 230 Blacks Road on-slip One-way Traffic Flow 
			 M1 231 Blacks Road off-slip One-way Traffic Flow 
			 M1 520 Blacks Road-Saintfield Road (Junction 6) To Belfast From Belfast 
			 M1 521 Sprucefield (Junction 7)–Moira (Junction 9) To Lisburn To Moira 
			 M1 403 Lough Road (Junction 10)–Ballynacor (Junction 11) To Lurgan To Dungannon 
			 M1 435 M1 to M12 off-slip One-way Traffic Flow 
			 M1 436 M12 to M1 on-slip One-way Traffic Flow 
			 M1 404 Stangmore (Junction 15)–Tamnamore (Junction 14) To Dungannon To Lurgan 
		
	
	
		Table B: Traffic Counts on M1 Motorway
		
			2004 Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow2003 Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow2002 Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow 
			 RoadNo. CensusPoint No. Location Chan 1# Chan 2# Total Chan 1# Chan 2# Total Chan 1# Chan 2# Total 
			 M1 201* Broadway-Stockman's Lane Junction 30,240 30,130 60,370 30,360 30,020 60,380 27,880 26,790 54,670 
			 M1 227* Stockman's Lane Junction (above roundabout) N/A N/A N/A 24,760 24,370 49,130 25,460 25,060 50,520 
			 M1 230* Blacks Road on-slip 13,070 One-way 13,070 One-way Traffic Flow   12,740 One-way Traffic Flow   13,910 
			 M1 231* Blacks Road off-slip 12,700 One-way 12,700 One-way Traffic Flow   13,070 One-way Traffic Flow   13,170 
			 M1 520* Blacks Road-Saintfield Road, (Junction 6) 22,700 23,280 45,980 21,700 22,030 43,730 19,920 20,620 40,540 
			 M1 521* Sprucefield (Junction 7)–Moira (Junction 9) 16,770 16,640 33,410 16,220 16,030 32,250 15,970 15,470 31,440 
			 M1 403** Lough Road (Junction 10)– Ballynacor (Junction 11) 16,130 16,610 32,740 15,890 16,350 32,240 20,380 11,950 32,330 
			 M1 435* M1 to M12 off-slip 2,120 One-way 2,120 One-way Traffic Flow   1,920 One-way Traffic Flow   1,830 
			 M1 436* M12 to M1 on-slip 2,050 One-way 2,050 One-way Traffic Flow   1,850 One-way Traffic Flow   1,770 
			 M1 404* Stangmore (Junction 15)–Tamnamore (Junction 14) 9,190 9,060 18,250 8,830 8,700 17,530 N/A N/A N/A 
		
	
	Note:
	Where "N/A" appears this means that either the counter was not yet in place or the information was deemed unreliable following quality checks.
	# The term "Channel" relates to the direction of flow of traffic—refer to Table A.
	* At these census points traffic is counted continuously (24 hours/7 days) and the Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow is calculated.
	** At these census points traffic is counted for one week in each quarter and the Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow is calculated.
	
		Table C: Traffic Counts on M1 Motorway
		
			 Road Census  2001Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow2000Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow 
			 No. Point No. Location Channel 1# Channel 2# Total Channel 1# Channel 2# Total 
			 M1 201* Broadway-Stockman's Lane(Junction 2) 28,530 20,820 49,350 N/A N/A N/A 
			 M1 227* Stockman's Lane Junction(above roundabout) 24,650 24,620 49,270 24,630 24,770 49,400 
			 M1 230* Blacks Road on-slip Combined  13,600 Combined  14,040 
			 M1 231* Blacks Road off-slip Combined  12,880 Combined  12,960 
			 M1 520* Blacks Road-Saintfield Road (Junction 6) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 
			 M1 521* Sprucefield (Junction 7)–Moira (Junction 9) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 
			 M1 403** Lough Road (Junction 10)–Ballynacor (Junction 11) 13,910 14,000 27,910 14,470 14,740 29,210 
			 M1 435* M1 to M12 off-slip 1 Channelonly  1,130 1 Channelonly  1,010 
			 M1 436* M12 to M1 on-slip 1 Channelonly  1,710 1 Channelonly  1,500 
			 M1 404* Stangmore (Junction 15)–Tamnamore (Junction 14) 7,700 7,920 15,620 7,470 7,540 15,010 
		
	
	Note:
	Where "N/A" appears this means that either the counter was not yet in place or the information was deemed unreliable following quality checks.
	#The term "Channel" relates to the direction of flow of traffic—refer to Table A.
	* At these census points traffic is counted continuously (24 hours/7 days) and the Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow is calculated.
	**At these census points traffic is counted for one week in each quarter and the Annual Average Daily Traffic Flow is calculated.

Waste Management

Lord Vinson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bach on 10 February (WA 128), whether it will be an offence under proposed regulations for a householder to burn any plastic waste on an open fire; and, if so, what the maximum punishment will be for this offence.

Lord Bach: The Waste Management Licensing (England & Wales) Regulations 2006 ("the regulations") will amend Section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 so that, in particular, it will be an offence for any person (including a householder) to dispose of household waste from a domestic property within the curtilage of that property in a manner likely to cause pollution of the environment or harm to human health. After the coming into force of the regulations, if a householder were to burn plastic waste on an open fire within the curtilage of their dwelling they may (depending on the circumstances) be committing a criminal offence. The maximum penalty for any such offence would be, on summary conviction, a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum (currently £5,000), or on conviction on indictment, a fine.